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Politics & Government

No Decision on 'Unruly' Partying

A majority of City Council members agree with Councilman Keith Curry that the ordinance as written isn't "ready for prime time." It is expected to come back before the council May 10.

The City Council voted Tuesday to postpone a decision on a proposed ordinance that would create hefty fines for people and property owners involved in loud and unruly parties.

As the council meeting neared midnight, Councilman Keith Curry suggested that the item be postponed until May 10 to give the staff more time to iron out the details of the ordinance.  Mayor Mike Henn and Councilwoman Nancy Gardner opposed the delay.

"I don't believe we're quite ready for prime time here," Curry said.  “I think we need to have a better process for making sure the identification process and the notification process works."

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Under the proposed ordinance, if police arrive at a residence and deem a party "unruly," they could post a large red violation tag on the building for six months and fine the property owner. Individual partygoers could also be deemed unruly and fined. 

Subsequent violations within six months would result in steeper fines for property owners and partygoers alike. In the case of individuals, the bonus penalty would apply even if the subsequent violation was elsewhere in the city. So a person could receive a first offense in Corona del Mar and a second offense a week later on Balboa Island.

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, the ordinance was redrafted to add a number of changes, including a grace period for property owners to inform tenants about the ordinance, and a way for property owners to petition the city to remove the violation tag in certain instances.

Fines could range from $250 to $8,000, depending on the number of violations and where in the city they occur.

A number of property owners spoke during the meeting. Some expressed concern that the ordinance would punish them for the actions of their tenants, even if the property owner tried comply with the law.  

Henn said the ordinance already addressed those concerns.

“If you read this carefully, there are substantial protections built into it for property owners,” he said.

Henn said he felt that the ordinance was acceptable as written and that the Police Department needed a method in place to combat the unruly parties, especially Independence Day parties. 

“We need a tool for this Fourth of July. We need a tool well enough in advance of the Fourth,” Henn said.

The law defines a “loud and unruly gathering” as eight or more people on any private residential property gathered for a “social occasion or activity” where there is a public nuisance or threat to public safety.  

"Loud and unruly" conduct, according to the proposed ordinance, includes excessive noise, public drunkenness, vandalism and violent crime. 

According to the staff report,  the proposed legislation is modeled on similar ordinances in Tucson, AZ, and Narragansett, RI.

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